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DESCRIPTIO 


AMERICAN 

ELECTRO  MAGNETIC  TELEGRAPH: 


NOW  IN  OPERATION  BETWEEN  THE  CITIES  OF 


WASHINGTON   AND   BALTIMORE 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  FOURTEEN  WOOD  ENGRAVINGS. 


BY   ALFRED   VAIL, 

ASSISTANT  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  ELEC.  MAG.  TEL.  FOR  THE  U.  S. 


"  The  same  principle  which  justified  and  demanded  the  transference  of  the  mail  on  many  chief 
routes,  from  the  horse-drawn  coach  on  common  highways  to  steam-impelled  vehicles  on  land  and 
water,  is  equally  potent  to  warrant  the  calling  of  the  electro  magnetic  telegraph— that  last  and  most 
wondrous  birth  of  this  wonder-teeming  age — in  aid  of  the  post  office,  in  discharge  of  its  great  func- 
tion of  rapidly  transmitting  correspondence  and  intelligence." 

REP.  OF  COM.  OF  WAYS  AND  MEANS  OF  H.  R.,  1845. 


COPY  RIGHT  SECURED 


WASHINGTON: 

PRINTED  BY  J.  &  G.  S.  GIDEON 
1845. 


THE 


ELECTRO  MAGNETIC  TELEGRAPH, 


THE     GALVANIC     BATTERY. 

THE  galvanic  battery,  the  generator  of  that  subtle  fluid,  which  performs 
so  important  a  part  in  the  operation  of  the  Electro  Magnetic  Telegraph,  is 
as  various  in  its  form  and  arrangement,  as  the  variety  of  purposes  to  which 
it  is  applied.  They  all,  however,  involve  the  same  principle.  It  is  not  our 
design  here  to  describe  the  various  modes  of  constructing  it,  but  to  confine 
our  remarks  more  immediately  to  that  used  for  the  Telegraph. 

The  effects  produced  by  the  galvanic  fluid  upon  the  metallic  bodies, 
iron  and  steel,  exciting  in  them  the  power  of  attraction  or  magnetism,  its 
decomposing  effects  upon  liquids,  resolving  them  into  their  simple  elements, 
its  effects  upon  the  animal  system,  in  producing  a  spasmodic  and  sudden 
irritation,  are  generally  well  known.  But  of  the  character  of  the  fluid  itself, 
its  own  essence  or  substance,  we  know  nothing.  In  some  of  its  phenomena, 
it  resembles  the  electricity  of  the  heavens ;  both  find  a  conductor  in  the 
metals ;  both  exhibit  a  spark,  and  both  are  capable  of  producing  shocks,  or 
when  applied,  cause  the  animal  system  to  be  sensible  to  them.  Again,  in 
other  of  its  phenomena  it  is  totally  unlike  it.  The  galvanic  fluid  is  essen- 
tially necessary  in  producing  the  electro  magnet;  while  the  electricity  of  the 
heavens,  or  as  it  is  generally  termed,  machine  electricity,  has  no  such  power 
for  practical  purposes.  The  foimer  is  more  dense,  so  to  speak,  and  more 
easily  confined  to  its  conductors,  while  the  latter  becomes  dissipated  and  lost 
in  the  atmosphere  long  before  it  has  reached  the  opposite  extremity  of  a  long 
conductor.  The  former  is  continuous  in  its  supply ;  while  the  latter  is  at 
irregular  intervals.  The  former  always  needs  a  continuous  conductor; 
while  the  latter  will  pass  from  one  metallic  conductor  to  another  without  that 
connection.  The  latter  would  not  subserve  the  purposes  required  in  the 
working  of  the  Electro  Magnetic  Telegraph,  and  as  it  is  neither  essential  nor 
antagonistical,  its  presence  upon  the  galvanic  conductors  or  wires,  at  the 


time  those  wires  are  being  used  for  telegraphic  communication,  does 
£JJn  no  way  interrupt  or  confuse  its  operation ;  and  its  presence  is  only  known 
9from  the  suddenness  of  its  discharge  at  long  intervals,  accompanied  by  a 
{^bright  spark,  with  a  loud  crack,  like  that  of  a  coachman's  whip. 

The  most  simple  mode  of  developing  the  galvanic  fluid  is  in  the  follow- 
ing manner :'  if  a  common  glass  tumbler  is  two-thirds  rilled  with  dilute  mu- 
riatic acid,  and  a  piece  of  bright  zinc,  five  inches  long  and  one  inch  wide, 
immersed  in  the  liquid,  at  one  of  its  ends,  slight  action  will  be  discovered  upon 
it.  If  a  slip  of  copper  be  then  taken,  of  the  same  dimensions,  and  one  end 
immersed  in  the  liquid,  but  separated  from  that  portion  of  the  zinc  im- 
mersed, and  not  permitted  to  touch  it ;  and  the  two  projecting  ends  of  the 
zinc  and  copper,  above  the  liquid  be  brought  in  contact,  an  active  decompo- 
sition of  the  muriatic  acid  will  appear. 

While  the  two  outer  ends  are  in  contact,  there  is  that  current  formed  in 
the  metallic  plates,  which  is  termed  galvanic.  If  the  contact  is  broken,  the 
action  ceases;  if  it  is  again  renewed,  the  action  is  recommenced.  Another 
very  simple  experiment,  and  within  the  power  of  every  one  to  demonstrate 
for  themselves,  is  that  of  applying  a  piece  of  zinc  to  the  underside  of  the 
tongue,  and  to  the  upperside,  a  silver  coin,  and  then  by  bringing  their  pro- 
jecting ends  in  contact,  a  sensible  and  curious  effect  is  experienced  upon  the 
tongue.  It  is  a  feeble  galvanic  shock,  and  is  proof  of  the  presence  of  that 
fluid  termed  galvanic. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  describe  the  battery  used  for  telegraphic  purposes ; 
the  same  in  principle,  but  in  arrangement  more  complicated,  and  far  more 
powerful,  than  those  in  common  use.  Two  distinct  acids  are  employed; 
two  metals  and  two  vessels.  Each  part  will  be  described  separately,  and 
then  the  whole,  as  put  together  ready  for  use. 

First.  A  glass  tumbler  of  the  ordinary  size  is  used,  or  about  three  inches 
high  and  two  inches  and  three  quarters  in  diameter. 

Second.  The  zinc  cylinder,  made  of  the  purest  zinc,  and  cast  in  an  iron 
mould,  represented  by  figure  1. 

FIG.   1. 


It  is  three  inches  high,  and  two  inches  in  diameter.  The  shell  I  is  three- 
eighths  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  D  is  an  opening  in  the  cylinder,  parallel 
with  its  axis,  and  is  of  no  other  use  than  to  aid  in  the  operation  of  casting 
them,  and  facilitating  ftie  access  of  the  fluid  to  the  interior.  A  A  repre- 
sents the  body  of  the  cylinder.  B  is  a  projecting  arm,  first  rising  vertically 
from  the  shell,  and  then  projecting  horizontally  one  and  three-quarters  of 
an  inch.  To  this  arm,  at  C,  is  soldered  a  platinum  plate  of  the  thickness 
of  tin  foil,  and  hanging  vertically  from  the  arm  B,  as  seen  at  O?  and  of  the 
form  as  shown  in  the  figure.  This  constitutes  the  zinc  cylinder  and  plati- 
num plate,  the  two  metals  used  in  the  battery. 

Third.  The  porous  cup.  To  avoid  an  erroneous  impression  in  the  use 
of  the  term  porous,  it  will  suffice  to  state,  that  it  is  a  cup  of  the  form  repre- 
sented by  figure  2, 

FIG.  2. 


made  of  the  same  materials  as  stone- ware,  and  baked  without  being  glazed.* 
A  represents  the  rim  surrounding  the  top.  From  the  under  side  of  the  rim 
to  the  bottom,  it  is  three  inches  long,  and  one  and  one-quarter  in  diameter. 
The  rim  projects  one-quarter  of  an  inch,  and  the  shell  of  the  cup  is  one- 
eighth  of  an  inch  thick. 

These  several  parts  are  placed  together  thus.  The  porous  cup,  fig.  2,  is 
set  in  the  hollow  of  the  zinc  cylinder,  fig.  1,  represented  by  H,  with  the 
rim  of  the  cup  resting  upon  the  top  of  the  zinc  at  I.  The  zinc  cylinder  is 
then  placed  in  the  glass  tumbler.  The  whole  is  represented  in  figure  3. 

FIG.  3. 


*These  are  made  at  the  American  Pottery,  in  Jersey  (5ity,  opposite  New  York. 


D  represents  the  porous  cup,  F  the  zinc  cylinder,  G  the  glass  tumbler, 
A  the  projecting  arm  of  the  zinc,  C  the  platinum  plate,  and  B  the  over- 
lapping of  the  platinum  plate  upon  the  zinc  arm,  where  it  is  soldered  to  it. 

It  is  now  in  a  condition  to  receive  the  acids,  which  are  two :  first,  pure 
nitric  acid,  and  second,  sulphuric  acid,  diluted  in  the  proportion  of  one  part 
of  sulphuric  acid  to  twelve  of  water.  First  fill  the  porous  cup  with  the 
nitric  acid,  to  within  one-quarter  of  an  inch  of  the  top;  then  fill  the  glass 
with  the  diluted  sulphuric  acid,  till  it  reaches  to  a  level  with  the  nitric  acid 
in  the  porous  cup.  One  glass  of  the  battery  is  now  ready  for  use,  and  as 
all  the  other  members  of  the  battery  are  similarly  constructed,  (there  being 
many  or  few,  as  circumstances  require,)  and  are  to  be  prepared  and  filled 
with  their  appropriate  acids  in  the  same  manner,  the  above  description  will 
suffice.  There  remains,  however,  some  further  explanation  in  regard  to  the 
extremities  of  the  series  of  glasses,  that  is,  the  mode  of  connecting  the  zinc 
of  the  first  glass  with  the  wire  leading  from  it,  and  also  the  mode  of  connect- 
ing the  platinum  of  the  last  glass  with  the  wire  leading  from  that  end  of  the 
series  of  glasses.  Figure  4  represents  their  arrangement. 

FIG.  4. 


The  glasses  being  all  separately  supplied  with  their  acids,  and  otherwise 
prepared,  they  are  put  together  upon  a  table,  A  A,  perfectly  dry,  and  made 
of  hard  wood.  The  first  member  of  the  series  has  soldered  to  its  zinc  arm 
a  strip  of  copper,  C,  which,  extending  downward,  has  its  end,  previously 
brightened  and  amalgamated,  immersed  in  a  cup  of  mercury  at  N.  The 
cup  being  permanently  secured  to  the  table.  Then  the  second  glass  is 
taken,  and  the  platinum,  B,  at  the  end  of  the  zinc  arm,  is  gently  let  fall 
into  the  porous  cup,  so  that  it  shall  be  in  the  centre  of  the  cup,  and  reaching 
down  as  far  as  its  length,  when  the  glass  rests  upon  the  table.  The  third 
glass  is  then  taken  and  placed  in  the  same  manner,  and  so  on  to  the  last. 
The  last  glass  has,  in  its  porous  cup,  the  platinum  plate,  D,  soldered  to  a 
strip  of  copper,  E,  which  is  so  constructed  as  to  turn  at  the  top,  and  admit 
of  the  easy  introduction  of  the  platinum  into  the  porous  cup,  while  the  other 


end  of  the  copper,  previously  prepared  like  the  copper  of  the  other  end  of  the 
battery,  terminates  in  a  cup  of  mercury,  P.  The  cup  being  capable  of  ad- 
justment, so  as  to  bring  the  platinum  directly  over  the  porous  cup  ;  is, 
when  adjusted^  secured  permanently  to  the  table.  The  battery,  thus 
arranged,  is  ready  to  be  applied. 


THE    WIRE. 

The  wire  used  in  making  helices  for  the  magnets,  and  for  connecting  the 
telegraphic  stations,  is  made  of  copper  of  the  best  quality,  and  annealed.  It 
is  covered  with  cotton  thread,  so  as  to  conceal  every  part  of  the  metallic 
surface ;  not  so  much  to  prevent  corrosion  or  waste  from  the  action  of  the 
atmosphere,  as  to  prevent  a  metallic  contact  of  one  wire  with  another,  when 
placed  near  each  other.  After  the  wire  is  covered,  it  is  then  saturated  with 
shellac,  and  then,  again,  with  a  composition  of  asphaltum,  beeswax,  resin 
and  linseed  oil.  It  is  now  in  a  condition  to  be  extended  upon  the  poles. 
That  portion  of  the  wire  of  which  the  helices  are  made  is  only  saturated 
with  shellac. 


THE     ELECTRO     MAGNET. 

The  electro  magnet  is  the  basis  upon  which  the  whole  invention  rests  in 
its  present  construction ;  without  it,  it  would  entirely  fail.  As  it  is  of  so 
much  importance,  a  detailed  account  will  be  given  of  the  construction  of 
the  electro  magnet,  as  used  for  telegraphic  purposes.  A  bar  of  soft  iron,  of 
the  purest  and  best  quality,  is  taken  and  made  into  the  form  presented  in  figure 

FIG.  5. 


5,  which  consists  of  four  parts,  viz.  A  F  and  A  F  are  the  two  legs  or  prongs  of 
the  magnet,*  of  a  rounded  form,  and  bent  at  the  top,  approaching  each  other 
towards  the  centre,  where  the  ends  of  each  prong,  without  touching,  turn  up, 
and  present  flat,  smooth  and  clean  surfaces,  level  with  each  other  at  F  F. 
The  other  end  of  these  prongs  or  legs  is  turned  smaller  than  the  body,  on 
the  end  of  which  is  a  screw  and  nut,  C  C.  These  ends  pass  through  a 
plate  of  iron,  B,  of  the  same  quality,  at  I  and  I,  until  they  rest  upon  the  plate 
at  the  shoulder  produced  by  turning  them  smaller.  They  are  then  both 
permanently  secured  to  the  plate,  B,  by  the  nuts,  C  C,  and  the  whole  be- 
comes as  one  piece.  This  arrangement  is  made  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
on  the  coils  or  taking  them  off  with  facility.  The  form  most  common  for 
electro  magnets  is  that  of  the  horse-shoe ;  and  is  simply  a  bar  of  iron  bent 
in  that  form.  E  represents  a  small  flat  plate  of  soft  iron,  sufficiently  large 
to  cover  the  faces  of  the  two  prongs,  F  and  F,  presenting  on  its  under  side 
a  surface  clean  and  smooth,  and  parallel  with  the  faces,  F  and  F. 

The  coils  or  helices  of  wire,  which  surround  the  prongs,  A  A,  necessary 
to  complete  the  electro  magnet,  consist  of  many  turns  of  wire,  first  running 
side  by  side,  covering  the  form  upon  which  the  spiral  is  made,  until  the 
desired  length  of  the  coil  is  obtained ;  the  wire  is  then  turned  back,  and 
wound  upon  the  first  spiral,  covering  it,  until  the  other  end  of  the  coil  is 
reached,  where  the  winding  began ;  then  again  mounting  upon  the  second 
spiral,  covers  it,  and  in  the  same  manner  it  is  wound  back  arid  forth,  until 
the  required  size  of  the  coil  is  attained. 

The  coil  is  wound  upon  a  form  of  the  size  (or  a  little  larger)  of  the  legs 
of  the  magnet,  and  when  the  coil  is  completed,  the  form  is  taken  out,  leaving 
an  opening  in  the  centre,  B,  into  which  the  prongs  may  freely  pass. 
Figure  6  represents  a  coil  constructed  in  (he  manner  described.  A  and  A  are 

FIG.  6. 


•  The  term  magnet,  here,  is  synonymously  used  with  the  iron  for  the  magnet,  as  the  simple 
iron  is  not  a  magnet,  except  when  subjected  to  the  action  of  the  battery  through  the  helices 
of  wire  around  it.  It  would  confuse  the  reader,  if  this  distinction  be  not  kept  in  view.  Perma- 
nent magnets  are  those  which  retain  their  magnetism  when  once  they  are  charged.  They  are 
always  made  of  steel,  and  usually  bent  in  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe.  Sometimes  they  are  of  a 


8 

the  two  ends  of  wire  which  are  brought  out  from  the  coils.  The  one  pro- 
ceeds from  the  centre  of  the  coil,  and  the  other  from  the  outside.  C  and  C 
are  circular  wooden  heads,  on  each  end  of  the  coil,  and  fastened  to  it  by 
binding  wire,  running  from  one  head  to  the  other,  around  the  coil.  The 
wire  used  in  constructing  it,  as  heretofore  mentioned,  is  covered  in  the  same 
manner  as  bonnet  wire,  and  saturated  or  varnished  with  gum  shellac.  This 
preparation  is  necessary,  in  order  to  prevent  a  metallic  contact  of  the  wires 
with  each  other.  Such  a  contact  of  some  of  the  wires  with  others  encircling 
the  iron  prong,  would  either  weaken  or  altogether  destroy  the  effect  intended 
by  their  many  turns.  If  the  wires  were  bare,  instead  of  being  covered,  the 
galvanic  fluid,  when  applied  to  the  two  ends,  A  and  A,  instead  of  passing 
through  the  whole  length  of  the  wire  in  the  coil  as  its  conductor,  would 
pass  laterally  through  it  as  a  mass  of  copper,  in  the  shortest  direction  it 
could  take.  For  this  reason,  they  require  a  careful  and  most  perfect  insu- 
lation. Two  coils  are  thus  prepared  for  each  magnet,  one  for  each  prong, 
A  and  A,  figure  5. 

Figure  7  exhibits  a  view  of  the  magnet ;  figure  5,  with  its  two  coils,  H 

FIG.   7. 


and  H,  placed  upon  the  prongs.  Those  parts  of  the  magnet,  not  concealed  by 
the  coils,  are  lettered  as  in  figure  5,  and  correspond  with  its  description.  P 
represents  the  wire  connecting  the  coil  H  with  H,  and  A  and  A  the  ends  of 
the  wires  leaving  the  coils. 

We  now  proceed  to  explain  the  manner  by  which  the  magnet  is  secured 
upon  a  frame,  and  the  arrangement  of  the  armature,  E,  figure  7,  upon  a 
lever,  so  that  the  motion  peculiar  for  telegraphic  writing  may  be  shown. 

single  plate  of  that  form,  and  others  are  constructed  with  many  plates,  side  by  side,  fastened 
together  so  as  to  present  a  compact  magnet  of  the  same  form.  They  are  distinguished  from 
Electro  Magnets  from  the  fact,  that  the  soft  iron  of  the  latter  depends  upon  the  influence  of  the 
galvanic  fluid  for  its  magnetism,  and  retains  it  only  so  long  as  the  soft  iron  is  under  its  influence, 
while  the  former,  when  once  submitted  to  the  influence  of  the  galvanic  fluid,  retain  their  mag- 
netism permanently. 


9 
FIG.  8. 


Figure  8  exhibits,  in  perspective,  a  view  of  the  electro  magnet  and  the 
pen  lever,  in  a  condition  to  show  the  effect  of  the  galvanic  battery  upon  the 
prongs  of  the  magnet,  F  and  F,  and  the  armature,  D,  and  the  movement  of 
the  pen  lever  to  which  the  electro  magnet  is  secured.  A  bolt,  upon  the 
end  of  which  is  a  head  or  shoulder,  passes  through  the  centre  of  the  upright 
block,  C,  and  between  the  coils,  H  and  H,  and  also  through  the  brass  brace, 
O,  projecting  a  little  beyond  it,  with  a  screw  cut  upon  its  end.  The  thumb- 
nut,  P,  fitted  to  it,  is  then  put  on,  and  the  whole  firmly  held  by  screwing 
the  thumb-nut  as  far  as  possible.  F  and  F  are  the  faces  of  the  iron  prongs, 
as  shown  in  figure  7,  presenting  their  flat  surface  to  the  armature,  D.  L  is 
the  pen  lever,  suspended  upon  steel  points,  as  its  axis,  which  pass  through  its 
side  at  X,  and  soldered  to  it.  Each  end  of  this  steel  centre  is  tapered  so  as 
to  form  a  sharp  and  delicate  point  or  pivot.  E  is  a  screw,  passing  through 
the  side  of  the  brass  standard,  G,  and  presenting  at  its  end  a  sunken  centre, 
the  reverse  of  the  steel  pivot  point  at  X.  There  is  also  another  screw,  sim- 
ilar to  E,  passing  through  the  other  side  of  the  standard  at  G',  with  a  sunken 
centre  in  its  end.  By  the  extremities  of  these  two  screws,  to  which  the  ta- 
pered ends  of  the  steel  centre  is  fitted,  the  pen  lever  is  suspended,  so  as  deli- 
cately to  move  up  and  down,  as  shown  by  the  direction  of  the  arrow.  The 
brass  standard,  G,  is  secured  to  the  upright  block,  C.  D  is  the  armature, 
soldered  to  the  end  of  the  brass  pen  lever,  L,  separated  from  the  faces  of  the 
magnet,  F  and  F,  about  the  eighth  of  an  inch.  W  is  a  yoke,  secured  to  the 


•10 

lever  by  a  screw,  and  which  admits  through  its  lower  part  the  steel  wire 
spring,  M  M,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  down  the  lever  when  not  acted  upon 
by  the  electro  magnet.  The  spring  is  secured  to  a  brass  standard  at  the  top, 
represented  by  N.  R  represents  the  three  steel  points  of  the  pen,*  which 
mark  upon  the  paper  the  telegraphic  characters ;  each  of  which  strike  into 
its  own  appropriate  groove  in  the  steel  roller,  S.  T  and  T  are  the  flanges  of 
the  steel  roller,  S,  and  which  confine  the  paper  as  it  passes  between  the  pen 
points,  R,  and  the  steel  roller,  S,  described  more  fully  hereafter.  J  and  I  are 
two  screws  in  the  horizontal  cross  bar  attached  to  the  standard,  G,  and  are 
used  for  the  purpose  of  adjusting  and  limiting  the  pen  lever  in  its  movement 
upward  and  downward ;  the  one  to  prevent  the  pen  points  from  striking  too 
deeply  into  the  paper  and  tearing  it,  and  the  other  to  prevent  the  armature 
from  receding  too  far  from  the  faces  of  the  electro  magnet,  and  beyond  its 
attraction,  when  it  is  a  magnet.  K  is  the  connecting  wire  of  the  two  coils 
H  and  H.  A  and  B  show  the  ends  of  the  wire,  one  coming  from  each  coil 
and  passing  through  the  stand,  and  seen  below  at  a  and  6. 

Having  explained  this  arrangement  of  the  electro  magnet,  the  pen  lever, 
and  the  battery ;  the  effect  of  the  latter  upon  the  former  will  now  be  de- 
scribed. Let  one  of  the  wires  from  the  coils,  figure  8, — a.t  for  instance,  be 
extended  so  far,  that  it  can  conveniently  and  securely  be  connected  with  the 
mercury  cup,  N,  figure  4,  of  that  pole  of  the  battery.  Then  take  the 
wire  6,  figure  8,  and  extend  it  also  to  a  convenient  length,  so  as  to  be  freely 
handled,  and  connect  it  with  the  mercury  cup,  P,  figure  4,  of  the  other  pole  of 
the  battery.  It  will  be  found  at  the  instant  the  connection  is  made,  that  the 
lever,  L,  figure  8,  will  fly  up  in  the  direction  of  the  arrow  at  W.  The 
iron  prongs  in  the  centre  of  the  coils,  H  and  H,  which  were  before  perfectly 
free  from  any  attractive  power,  have  now  become  powerfully  magnetic  by 
the  inductive  influence  of  the  galvanic  current  following  the  circuitous  turns 
of  the  wire  around  the  iron,  so  that  now  the  electro  magnet  is  capable  of  sus- 
taining twenty  or  twenty-five  pounds  weight.  This  magnetic  power  con- 
centrated in  the  faces  of  the  electro  magnet,  F  and  F,  attracts  to  it  the  arma- 
ture or  small  iron,  D,  drawing  the  pen  lever  down  on  that  side  of  its  axis, 
and  producing  a  reverse  motion  on  the  other  side  at  L.  Now  take  out  the  wire 
b  from  the  mercury  cup,  and  in  an  instant  its  magnetism  is  gone,  and  the  lever, 
L,  falls  by  the  action  of  the  spring,  M.  If  the  circuit  is  closed  a  second  time, 
the  lever  again  flies  up ;  and  if  immediately  broken,  falls.  In  this  manner 
it  will  continue  to  operate  in  perfect  obedience  to  the  closing  or  breaking  of 
the  circuit.  If  the  circuit  is  closed  and  broken  in  rapid  succession,  the  lever 
obeys  and  exhibits  a  constant  and  rapid  vibration.  If  the  circuit  is  closed 
and  then  broken  after  a  short  interval,  the  lever  will  remain  up  the  same 

»  One  marking  point  will  suffice. 


li 

length  of  time,  the  circuit  is  closed,  and  falls  upon  its  being  broken.  What- 
ever may  be  the  time  the  circuit  is  broken,  the  lever  will  remain  up  for  the 
same  length  of  time,  and  whatever  may  be  the  time  it  continues  broken, 
the  lever  will  remain  down  for  the  same  time.  Suppose  the  magnet  is 
separated  at  the  distance  of  one  mile  from  the  battery  ;  upon  manipulating 
at  the  battery,  at  that  distance,  in  the  manner  just  described,  the  same 
vibratory  motion  is  produced  in  all  its  varieties,  as  when  they  were  removed 
only  a  short  distance.  Separate  them  10  miles,  and  still  the  same  mysterious 
fluid  is  obedient  to  the  pleasure  of  the  operator  in  producing  the  desired  mo- 
tion of  the  pen  lever.  If  they  were  separated  at  distances  of  100  or  1000 
or  100,000  miles  apart.,  the  lever  would  doubtless  obey  the  manipulations  of 
the  operator,  as  readily  as  if  only  distant  a  few  feet.  Here  is  exhibited  the 
principle  upon  which  Morse's  Electro  Magnetic  Telegraph  is  based,  and  which 
gives  to  the  several  portions  of  the  civilized  world  the  power  of  holding 
instantaneous  communication  with  each  other,  with  a  rapidity  far  beyond 
what  has  ever  before  been  attained.  As  the  above  explanation  is  given 
only  in  reference  to  the  power  of  the  electro  magnet,  when  connected  with 
the  battery,  and  to  show  the  movements  of  the  pen  lever,  we  shall  speak  of 
the  arrangement  of  the  wires  for  extended  lines  hereafter. 

Having  now  explained  the  electro  magnet  and  its  operation  through  the 
agency  of  the  battery,  we  will  proceed  to  describe  those  various  parts  of  the 
register,  by  which  the  electro  magnet  is  made  subservient  to  the  transmission 
of  intelligence  from  one  distant  point  to  another. 

Figure  9  represents,  in  perspective,  the  whole  of  the  register,  as  also  the 
key  or  correspondent.  The  electro  magnet,  H  and  H,  and  the  pen  lever,  L, 
which  have  just  been  described  under  figure  8,  need  not  be  recapitulated  here. 
The  letters  used  in  figure  8,  represent  the  same  parts  of  the  electro  magnet 
in  this  figure. 

*  The  brass  frame  containing  the  clock  work,  or  rather  wheel  work,  of  the 
instrument,  is  seen  at  5  and  5.  The  whole  purpose  of  the  clock  work  is  to 
draw  the  paper,*  2  2, -under  the  steel  roller,  S.  and  over  the  pen,  R,  at  an  uni- 
form rate. 

There  is  also  an  arrangement  in  connection  with  the  wheel  work,  by  means 
of  which  the  clockwork  is  put  in  motion  and  stopped  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
operator  at  the  distant  station.  How  this  is  done  will  now  be  explained. 

*  The  paper  used  for  telegraphic  writing  is  first  manufactured  by  the  paper  making  machine 
in  one  long  continuous  sheet,  of  any  length,  about  three  feet  and  a  half  in  width,  and  is  com- 
pactly rolled  up  as  it  is  made,  upon  a  wooden  cylinder.  It  is  then  put  into  a  lathe  and  marked 
off  in  equal  divisions  of  one  and  a  half  inches  in  width;  a  knife  is  applied  to  one  division  at 
a  time,  and  as  the  roll  of  paper  revolves,  the  knife  cuts  through  tho  entire  coil  until  it  reaches 
the  wooden,  centre.  This  furnishes  a  coil  ready  for  the  register,  and  is  about  fifteen  inches  in  di- 
ameter. The  whole  roll  of  paper  furnishes,  in  this  way,  about  twenty-eight  small  rolls  prepared 
for  use. 


12 


13 

Upon  the  shaft,  Rr,  is  a  brass  barrel,  upon  which  is  wound  the  cord  to  which 
the  weight,  4,  is  suspended,  and  by  means  of  which  and  the  intermediate 
wheels,  the  motion  produced,  is  communicated  to  two  rollers  (not  seen  in 
this  figure,  see  fig.  10,  E  F)  in  advance  of  the  steel  grooved  roller,  S.  These 
two  rollers  grasp  the  paper,  2, 2, 3,  between  them,  and  supply  it  to  the  pen 
at  a  given  and  uniform  rate ;  the  rate  being  determined  by  the  adjustment 
of  the  wings  of  the  fly,  connected  with  the  train. 

We  will  now  describe,  by  figure  10,  those  parts  connected  with  the  wheel 
work,  which  could  not  be  easily  shown  in  figure  9.     F  and  E  represent,  in 

FIG.  10. 


outline,  the  two  rollers  which  grasp  the  paper,  2  and  2.  The  roller  E  is 
connected  with  the  train  by  a  cog  wheel  upon  it.  F  is  not  so  connected ; 
but  is  pressed  hard  upon  E  by  means  of  springs  upon  the  ends  of  the  axle ; 
S  represents  the  grooved  steel  roller  beneath  which  the  paper,  2  and  2,  is 
seen  to  pass.  Directly  under  the  steel  roller  is  one  of  the  steel  pen  points 
at  R,  upon  the  end  of  the  pen  lever ;  a  part  of  which  only  is  shown.  Thus 
far  the  description  given  of  the  clock  work,  relates  to  those  parts,  by  the 
agency  of  which  the  pen  is  supplied  with  paper.  We  now  proceed  to  explain 
that  part  connected  with  the  clock  and  pen  lever,  by  which  the  clock  is  set 
in  motion  or  stopped  at  the  option  of  the  distant  operator. 

In  figure  9,  at  R',  is  seen  a  small  pulley  upon  the  barrel  shaft  of  the  clock 
work ;  at  Q,  is  another  pulley,  but  larger.    From  the  pulley,  R',  is  a  cord,*  or 

*  The  pulley  and  cord  have  been  dispensed  with  and  two  small  cog  wheels  substituted. 


14 

band,  10,  proceeding  to  pulley,  Q,,  and  then  returning  under  it  to  pulley, R'? 
making  it  continuous.  This  band  communicates  the  motion  of  pulley,  R',  to 
the  pulley,  Q,.  In  figure  10,  these  pulleys  are  represented  by  the  same  letters. 
B  represents  the  barrel ;  the  arrow,  the  direction  in  which  it  revolves  when 
in  motion.  The  arrow  at  Q,  shows  the  direction  which  it  takes  when  mo- 
tion is  communicated  to  it  by  R'.  Part  of  the  pulley,  Q,,  is  broken  away  in 
order  to  show  the  arm,  H,  soldered  at  the  middle  of  the  same  spindle  upon 
which  is  the  pulley,  Q,,  and  directly  beneath  the  pen  lever,  L.  It  is  bent  at 
D,  so  as  to  turn  down  and  strike  the  wooden  friction  wheel,  C,  at  the  point,  P. 
The  friction  wheel  is  secured  upon  the  last  spindle  of  the  train  at  its  middle  and 
directly  under  the  lever,  L.  From  the  pen  lever,  L,  is  seen  a  small  rod  of  wire, 
A, passing  down  through  the  arm,  H,  with  a  sere  wand  nut  under  it,  at  I,  for  the 
purpose  of  shortening  or  lengthening  it.  It  is  permitted  to  work  free,  both 
at  its  connection  with  the  lever  and  arm.  This  wire  is  also  extended  and 
passes  down  through  the  platform,  where  it  operates  upon  a  hammer  for  strik- 
ing a  bell,  to  apprise  the  operator  that  a  communication  is  to  be  sen.t.  The 
several  parts  being  now  explained,  their  combined  action  is  as  follows : 

The  arm,  H  and  D,  is  a  break,  which  when  brought  in  contact  with  the 
friction  wheel,  C,  prevents  the  weight  of  the  clock  work  from  acting  upon 
the  train,  and  there  is  no  motion.  By  the  action  of  the  magnet,  the  pen  lever, 
L,is  carried  up  in  the  direction  of  the  arrow,  3,  and  takes  with  it  the  connect- 
ing rod,  A,  and  also  the  break,  H,  D.  The  break  being  thus  removed  from 
the  friction  wheel,  C,  the  clock  work  commences  running  by  the  power  of 
the  weight.  The  barrel,  B,  must  consequently  turn  in  the  direction  of  the 
arrow  upon  it;  this  motion  is  communicated  by  the  band  to  Q,,  which  re- 
volves in  the  direction  of  its  arrow;  consequently,  if  the  lever,  L,  is  not  still 
held  up  by  the  magnet,  the  break  is  descending  slowly ;  and  when  it  reaches 
P,  stops  the  motion  of  the  clock  train,  unless  the  pen  lever  continues  in  mo- 
tion, in  which  case  the  break, D,  is  kept  up  from  the  friction  wheel,  thus  per- 
mitting the  clock  work  to  run,  until  the  lever  ceases  to  move,  when  the  break 
is  gradually  brought  down  upon  the  friction  wheel,  and  the  train  stops.  By 
this  contrivance,  the  operator  at  a  distance  can  so  control  the  movement  of 
the  paper  at  the  remote  register,  that  when  he  wishes  to  write,  it  shall  be  put 
in  motion,  his  pen  be  supplied  with  paper,  and  when  he  has  finished  his  wri- 
ting, the  register  shall  stop. 

U  represents  (figure  9)  the  brass  standards,  one  on  each  side  of  the  large 
roll  of  paper,  1,  1,  1,  which  it  supports.  Z  is  a  wooden  hub,  upon  which 
the  roll  is  placed;  and  12,  the  steel  arbor  of  the  hub,  and  upon  which  the 
whole  easily  revolves  as  the  paper,  2  and  2,  is  drawn  off  by  the  clock  work. 
Y  is  a  brass  spring,  between  the  hub  and  the  standard ;  and  keeps  the  paper 
stretched  between  the  roll  and  the  pen. 


15 

The  key  or  correspondent  is  represented  by  6,  7,  8,  9,     Another  view  of 
it  is  more  distinctly  seen  in  figure  11.     The  same  letters  in  each,  represent 

FIG.  11. 


the  same  thing.  Vand  V  is  the  platform.  8  is  a  metallic  anvil,  with  its 
smaller  end  appearing  below,  to  which  is  soldered  the  copper  wire  c.  7  is  the 
metallic  hammer,  attached  to  a  brass  spring,  9,  which  is  secured  to  a  block,  6, 
and  the  whole  to  the  platform,  V  V,  by  screws.  A  copper  wire  passes 
through  the  whole,  and  is  soldered  to  the  brass  spring  at  6.  The  key  or  cor- 
respondent is  used  for  writing  upon  the  register  at  the  distant  station,  and  both 
it  and  the  register  are  usually  upon  the  same  table. 

Having  now  explained  the  Register,  Key  and  Battery,  we  proceed  to  de- 
scribe the  arrangement  of  the  conductors  or  wires  connecting  distant  stations, 
and  the  mode  by  which  the  earth,  also,  is  made  a  conductor  of  this  subtle 
fluid. 

The  term  circuit  used  frequently  in  this  work,  has  reference  to  the  wire, 
which,  commencing  at  the  positive  pole  of  the  battery,  goes  to  any  distance 
and  returns  to  the  negative  pole  of  the  battery.  When  its  going  and  return- 
ing are  continuous  or  unbroken,  the  circuit  is  said  to  be  closed  or  complete. 
When  it  is  interrupted,  or  the  wire  is  disconnected,  the -circuit  is  said  to  be 
broken  or  open. 

When  a  magnet  or  key  or  battery  is  spoken  of  as  being  in  the  circuit,  it 
has  reference  to  the  use  of  the  wire  belonging  to  the  key,  magnet  or  battery, 
respectively,  as  a  part  of  the  circuit. 

There  are  three  modes  of  arranging  the  wires,  so  as  to  communicate  be- 
tween two  distant  stations.  Two  of  these  modes  are  inferior,  as  they  fur- 
nish but  one  circuit  for  the  termini,  and  consequently  obliging  one  station  to 
wait,  when  the  other  is  transmitting,  both  stations  not  being  able  to  telegraph 
at  the  same  time.  These  two  modes  are  called  the  dependent  circuits.  The 
first  mode  is,  where  two  wires  are  used,  of  which  figure  12  is  a  diagram. 
B  represents  Baltimore,  and  W  Washington ;  m  is  the  magnet  or  register ; 
A: the  key,  and  bat  the  battery,  all  at  the  Baltimore  station;  m'  is  the  magnet 
or  register;  k1  the  key  at  the  Washington  station.  The  lines,  represent  the 
wires  upon  the  poles,  connecting  the  two  stations,  and  are  called  the  east  and 


16 
FIG.  12. 


East  wire 


West  -wire 


west  wires.  In  this  arrangement  of  the  wires  and  also  in  the  second,  the  key 
(which  has  been  explained  in  a  preceding  figure,  11,  and  shown  at  6  and 
7  to  be  open )  must  be  closed  at  both  stations,  in  order  to  complete  the  cir- 
cuit, except  at  the  time  when  a  communication  is  being  transmitted.*  For 
the  purpose  of  closing  the  circuit  at  the  key,  a  metallic  wedge  is  used,  which 
is  put  in  between  the  anvil  8  and  the  hammer  7,  and  establishes  the  circuit. 
Supposing  the  battery  is  in  action,  and  B  has  a  communication  for  W :  he 
opens  his  key,  by  removing  the  wedge,  and  sends  his  message.  The  galva- 
nic fluid  leaves  the  point,  P,  of  the  battery,  and  goes  to  &,  to  m,  along  the  east 
wire  to  A/,  to  m',  and  back  by  the  west  wire  to  N  pole  of  the  battery.  In  the 
same  manner  it  proceeds  along  the  wires,  if  W  is  writing  to  B.  In  this  ar- 
rangement, the  direction  of  the  galvanic  current  is  the  same,  whether  B  or 
W  is  communicating,  unless  the  poles  of  the  battery  are  reversed. 

FIG.  13. 
JS&st-itrire 

( —     ground,        < — 


The  second  mode  has  but  one  wire  and  the  ground,  represented  by  figure 
13.  The  use  of  the  ground  as  a  conductor  of  the  galvanic  fluid,  between 
two  distant  points,  is  to  many  a  mystery.  But  of  the  fact  there  is  no  question. 
The  above  diagram  exhibits  the  manner  in  which  the  east  wire  and  ground 
were  used  from  the  first  operation  of  the  Telegraph,  until  the  close  of  the  ses- 
sion of  Congress,  June,  1844.  In  this  diagram,  we  will  minutely  follow  the 
course-  of  the  galvanic  current.  B  represents  Baltimore,  and  W  Washington ; 
C  represents  a  sheet  of  copper,  five  feet  long  and  two  and  a  half  feet  wide,  to 
which  a  wire  is  soldered  and  connects  with  the  N  pole  of  the  battery.  This 
sheet  of  copper  lies  in  the  water  at  the  bottom  of  the  dock,  near  the  depot  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Rail  Road ,  Pratt  street.  From  P  of  the  battery,  the  wire 

•  At  this  time  the  key  is  opened  at  the  station  from  which  -the  communication  is  to  be  sent. 


17 

proceeds  to  &,the  key,  then  iom,  the  magnet  or  register, then  it  is  the  east  wire 
to  &',  the  key  at  W,  then  torn', the  magnet  or  register,  then  to  the  copper  sheet, 
C',  buried  beneath  the  brick  pavement  in  the  dry  dust  of  the  cellar  of  the  cap- 
itol.  The  direction  of  the  current  is  from  P  of  the  battery  to  k,  to  w,and  along 
the  east  wire  to  A/,  to  m',and  to  C',  where  it  is  lost  in  the  earth;  but  reappears 
at  the  copper  plate,  C ,  atB,  and  thence  to  the  N  pole  of  the  battery,  having  com- 
pleted its  circuit.  It  is,  therefore,  certain,  that  one-half  of  the  circuit  is  through 
the  earth.  From  B  to  W  the  east  wire  is  the  conductor ;  and  from  W  to  B  the 
ground  is  the  conductor.  In  this  arrangement,  the  west  wire  is  thrown  out, 
and  is  no  part  of  the  circuit;  while  the  earth  has  been  made  a  substitute  for  it. 
The  last  diagram,  as  has  been  stated,  exhibits  the  plan  of  the  wire  and 
ground,  as  used  for  telegraphic  purposes,  from  its  first  operation,  until  the 
adjournment  of  Congress  in  1844,  being  prevented  from  completing  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  third  mode  from  the  throng  of  visitors,  that  pressed  to  see 
its  operation.  After  the  close  of  the  cession,  the  following  arrangement  of 
the  wires  was  made,  as  shown  in  the  diagram,  figure  14, by  means  of  which, 
both  stations  could  transmit  at  the  same  time,  with  one  battery  for  both,  and 
the  keys  were  not  required  to  be  closed.  It  is  called  the  two  indepen- 

FIG.  14. 


JZast  wire 


lot. 1 

2««n-E3- 


West  u/ire*. 


dent  circuits.  Here  the  west  wire  is  used  for  transmitting  from  B  to  W;  and 
the  east  wire  from  W  to  B.  The  copper  plates  at  B  and  W  remain  as  they 
are  described  in  the  second  plan.  Bat,  the  battery,  at  B  is  used  in  common 
for  both  circuits.  It  is  simply  necessary  here  to  designate  the  course  which 
the  fluid  takes  when  both  lines  are  in  operation,  viz.  B  transmitting  to  W;  and 
W  to  B.  In  the  former  case,  the  current  is  from  P  of  the  battery  to  k,  then 
the  west  wre,then  to  m1 ',  at  W,  then  to  (7,  thence  through  the  ground  toC  at 
B,  and  then  to  theN,  or  negative  pole  of  the  battery,  as  shown  by  the  arrows. 
In  the  latter  case,  the  current  is  from  P  of  the  battery  to  m,  then  the  east  wire, 
then  to  A-7,  at  W,  thence  to  (7,  thence  through  the  ground  toC  at  B,  thence  to 
the  N,  or  north  pole  of  the  battery,  as  shown  by  the  arrows.  This  arrange- 
ment, by  which  one  battery  is  made  efficient  for  both  circuits  at  the  same 
time,  where  two  were  formerly  used,  was  devised  by  Mr.  Vail,  assistant  su- 
perintendent, in  the  spring  of  1844,  and  has  contributed  much  to  diminish  the 


18 

care  and  expense  in  maintaining  that  part  of  the  apparatus  of  the  telegraph. 
One  battery  being  now  used  instead  of  two.  By  the  above  diagram,  it  will 
l)e  perceived  that  the  gwund  is  common  to  both  circuits,  as  well  as  the  bat- 
tery',  and  also  the  wire  from  the  N  pole  of  the  battery,  to  the  copper  plate,  C ; 
and  from  the  copper  plate,  C',  to  the  junction  of  the  two  wires  near  the  two 
arrows.  For  the  purposes  of  telegraphic  communication  they  answer  as  well 
as  though  there  were  four  wires  and  two  batteries.  Instead  of  using  the 
ground  between  C  and  C',  a  wire  might  be  substituted,  extending  from  the  N 
pole  of  the  battery  to  the  junction  of  the  wires  at  the  two  arrows  at  W.  The 
arrangement  of  the  wires,  battery,  keys,  magnets  or  registers  at  both  stations, 
with  the  ground,  as  shown  in  figure  14,  is  the  plan  now  used  for  telegraphic 
operations  between  B  and  W;  and  has  many  decided  advantages  over  the 
arrangements  of  figures  13  and  14.  First.  In  both  of  those  arrangements, 
the  circuit  is  obliged  to  be  kept  closed,  when  neither  station  is  at  work;  and 
as  the  battery  is  only  in  action  when  the  circuit  is  closed,  it  follows  that  the 
battery  will  not  keep  in  action  as  long  as  when  the  circuit  is  allowed  to  re- 
main open,  as  in  the  use  of  the  third  plan,  figure  15.  Second.  There  is  an 
advantage  in  dispensing  with  the  use  of  the  metallic  wedge,  which  is  liable 
to  be  forgotten  by  the  operator.  Third.  The  attendant  may  occasionally 
leave  the  room,  and  is  not  required  to  be  in  constant  waiting,  as  the  clock  work 
is  put  in  motion  and  stopped  by  the  operator  at  the  other  end,  and  the  message 
written  without  his  presence.  But  in  the  first  and  second  arrangement,  the 
apparatus  for  putting  in  motion  and  stopping  the  clock  work,  is  entirely 
useless.  The  attendant  being  obliged  to  put  it  in  motion  and  stop  it  him- 
self. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  describe  the  modus  operandi  of  transmitting  intel- 
ligence from  one  station  to  another;  the  arrangement  being  as  in  figure  14; 
k  is  the  key  of  the  operator  at  Baltimore,  and  m'  represents  his  register,  or 
writing  desk,  at  Washington ;  A/  is  the  key  of  the  operator  at  Washington,  and 
in  his  register,  or  writing  desk,  at  Baltimore.  Each  has  the  entire  control  of 
his  respective  register,  excepting,  only,  that  each  operator  winds  up  the  other's 
instrument,  and  keeps  it  supplied  with  paper.  It  will  also  be  borne  hi 
mind,  that  each  circuit  is  complete,  and  every  where  continuous,  except  at 
the  keys,  which  are  open.  If,  then,  the  hammer  is  brought  in  sudden  con- 
tact with  the  anvil,  and  permitted  as  quickly  as  possible  to  break  its  contact 
by  the  action  of  the  spring,  and  resume  its  former  position,  the  galvanic  fluid, 
generated  at  the  battery,  flies  its  round  upon  the  circuit,  no  matter  how  quick 
that  contact  has  been  made  and  broken.  It  has  made  the  iron  of  the  electro 
magnet  a  magnet ;  which  has  attracted  to  it  the  armature  of  the  pen  lever ; 
the  pen  lever,  by  its  steel  peri  points,  has  indented  the  paper,  and  the  pen 
lever  has",  also, by  the  connecting1  wire  with  the  break,  taken  it  from  thefric- 


19 

lion  wheel ;  this  lias  released  the  clock  work,  which,  through  the  agency  of  the 
weight,  has  commenced  running,  and  the  two  rollers  have  supplied  the  pen 
with  paper.  But,  as  only  one  touch  of  the  key  has  been  made,  the  clock 
work  soon  stops  again,  if  no  other  touches  are  made,  by  the  action  of  the 
break  upon  the  friction  wheel. 

This  shows  the  whole  operation  of  the  Telegraph,  in  making  a  single  dot 
by  a  single  touch  of  the  key.  In  order  now  to  explain  more  fully  the  ope- 
ration of  the  steel  pen  points  upon  the  paper,  which  is  in  contact  with  the 
grooved  roller,  let  there  be  made  four  touches  at  the  key ;  this  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  start  the  clock  work,  and  allow  the  paper  to  have  attained  a  uniform 
rate ;  then  let  six  touches  be  made  at  the  key.  The  contact  has  been  made 
six  times  and  broken  six  times.  Each  time  it  is  closed,  the  electro  mag- 
net, as  heretofore  explained,  attracts  to  it,  with  considerable  force,  the  arma- 
ture of  the  pen  lever,  carrying  up  the  steel  pen  points  against  the  paper,  2, 
under  the  steel  roller,  S.  The  three  points  of  the  pen,  falling  into  the  three 
corresponding  grooves  of  the  roller,  carry  the  paper  with  them  and  indent 
it,*  at  each  contact.  There  then  appear  upon  the  paper,  as  it  passes 
out  from  under  the  rollers,  six  indentations,  as  if  it  had  been  pressed 
upon  by  a  blunted  point,  such  as  the  end  of  a  knitting  needle  would  be  sup- 
posed to  make,  when  pressed  upon  paper,  placed  over  a  shallow  hole,  but  in 
such  a  manner  as  not  to  pass  through  the  paper,  but  raising  the  surface,  as 
in  the  printing  for  the  blind.  These  indentations  of  the  paper  are  the  mark- 
ing of  the  pen,  but  varied  in  the  manner  now  to  be  described. 

By  examining  the  telegraphic  alphabet,  the  characters  will  be  found  to  be 
made  up  of  dots  :  short  and  long  lines — and  short  and  long  spaces.  A  single 
touch  of  the  key,  answers  to  a  single  dot  on  the  paper  of  the  register;  which 
represents  the  letter,  E.  One  touch  of  the  key  prolonged,  that  is,  the  con- 
tact at  the  key  continued  for  about  the  time  required  to  make  two  dots,  pro- 

*  The  first  working  model  of  the  Telegraph  was  furnished  with  a  lead  pencil,  for  writing  its 
characters  upon  paper.  This  was  found  to  require  too  much  attention,  as  it  needed  frequent 
sharpening,  and  in  other  respects  was  found  inferior  to  a  pen  of  peculiar  construction,  which 
was  afterwards  substituted.  This  pen  was  supplied  with  ink  from  a  reservoir  attached  to  it.  It 
answered  well,  so  long  as  care  was  taken  to  keep  up  a  proper  supply  of  ink,  which,  from  the 
character  of  the  letters,  and  sometimes  the  rapid,  and  at  others  the  slow  rate  of  writing,  was 
found  to  be  difficult  and  troublesome.  And  then  again,  if  the  pen  ceased  writing  for  a  little 
time,  the  ink  evaporated  and  left  a  sediment  in  the  pen,  requiring  it  to  be  cleaned,  before  it  was 
again  in  writing  order.  These  difficulties  turned  the  attention  of  the  inventor  to  other  modes  of 
writing,  differing  from  the  two  previous  modes.  A  variety  of  experiments  were  made,  and 
among  them,  one  upon  the  principle  of  the  manifold  letter  writers ;  and  which  answered  the 
|  *  *  purpose  very  well,  for  a  short  time.  This  plan  was  also  found  objectionable,  and  after  much 
time  and  expense  expended  upon  it,  it  was  thrown  aside  for  the  present  mode  of  marking  the 
telegraphic  letter.  This  mode  has  been  found  to  answer  in  every  respect  all  that  could  be  de- 
sired. It  produces  an  impression  upon  the  paper,  not  to  be  mistaken.  It  is  clean,  and  the 
points  making  the  impression  being  of  the  very  hardest  steel,  do  not  wear,  and  renders  the  writ- 
ing apparatus  always  ready  for  use. 


20 

duces  a  short  line,  and  represents  T.  A  single  touch  for  about  the  time  re- 
quired to  make  four  dots,  is  a  long  line,  and  represents  L.  A  single  touch 
for  about  the  time  required  to  make  six  dots,  is  a  still  longer  line  and  repre 
sents  the  0  of  the  numerals.  If  the  use  of  the  key  be  suspended  for  about  the 
time  required  to  make  three  dots,  it  is  a  short  space,  used  between  letters. 
If  suspended  for  the  time  required  to  make  six  dots,  it  is  a  long  space,  used 
between  words,  and  a  longer  space  is  that  used  between  sentences.  These 
are  the  elements  which  enter  into  the  construction  of  the  telegraphic  char- 
acters, as  used  in  transmitting  intelligence.  The  alphabet  is  represented  by 
the  following  combination  of  these  elements. 

ALPHABET. 


A 

BCDEF             G             HIJ 

K 

L 

MNOP              QRSTU 

V 

W 

X              Y             Z              &                     123 

4 

Suppose  the  following  sentence  is  to  be  transmitted  from  Washington  to 
Baltimore : 


The         American         Elect         r 
>  Mag          neti         c  Tele         g  r        a 

ph  invented  b  y  Pro 


essor            SFBM 

or         s     e          o 

ew             York              on 

boar 

of  the  pac          ket  ship 

Su-11  y  Capt  Pell  on 

her  passage          from  H 

avreto  New  York  Oc 

t        o         b*       e      r  1  8  3  *2 


21 

It  is  evident,  as  the  attendant  at  Baltimore  has  no  agency  in  the  trans- 
mission of  this  message  from  Washington,  his  presence,  even,  is  not  abso- 
lutely required  in  the  telegraph  room  at  Baltimore,  nor  is  it  necessary,  pre- 
viously, to  ask  the  question,  are  you  therel  The  operator  at  Washington 
transmits  it  to  Baltimore,  whether  the  attendant  is  there  or  not,  and  the 
telegraphic  characters  are  distinctly  recorded  upon  the  paper  of  the  Baltimore- 
register.  If  he  omits  a  letter  at  the  key,  in  Washington,  it  is  omitted  on  the 
paper  in  Baltimore.  If  he  has  added  at  the  key  in  Washington,  it  is  also 
upon  the  paper  in  Baltimore,  nothing  more  or  less  is  marked  upon  it. 

Specimen  of  the  Telegraphic  Language. 


22 


23 

Prom  the  peculiarity  of  the  motion  obtained  at  the  pen  lever  by  tne  ac- 
tion of  the  battery  upon  the  electro  magnet,  it  is  evident  that  a  few  elements 
only  are  presented  upon  which  to  base  the  telegraphic  characters.  The  mo- 
tion of  the  lever,  to  which  is  attached  the  steel  pen  points,  is  vibratory;  but 
capable  of  being  so  controlled  as  to  cause  it  to  retain  either  of  its  positions 
(that  is,  up  or  down)  as  long,  and  at  such  intervals,  and  in  as  quick  succes- 
sion as  the  operator  may  choose.  Therefore,  every  sort  of  combination 
which  dots,  lines  and  spaces,  in  any  succession,  and  of  any  length  can  make, 
are  here  as  much  at  the  pleasure  of  the  telegraphic  manipulator,  as  the  Eng- 
lish alphabet  is  with  the  letter  writer.  So  that  if  from  this  countless  variety, 
twenty-six  of  the  most  simple,  to  represent  letters,  and  ten  to  represent  the 
numerals,  shall  be  taken,  we  come  at  once  into  possession  of  the  means  of 
representing  words  and  sentences,  by  new,  but  intelligible  characters,  and 
through  them,  can  be  conveyed  as  clearly,  and  as  concisely,  as  if  they  were 
given  viva  voce,  or  written  in  Roman  characters.  Such  is  the  alphabet  given 
above.  This  conventional  alphabet  was  originated  on  board  the  packet 
Sully,  by  Prof.  Morse,  the  very  first  elements  of  the  invention,  and  arose  from 
the  necessity  of  the  case;  the  motion  produced  by  the  magnet  being  limited 
to  a  single  action. 

During  the  period  of  thirteen  years,  many  plans  have  been  devised  by  the 
inventor  to  bring  the  telegraphic  alphabet  to  its  simplest  form.  The  plan  of 
using  the  common  letters  of  the  alphabet,  twenty-six  in  number,  with  twenty- 
six  wires,  one  wire  to  each  letter,  has  received  its  due  share  of  his  time  and 
thought.  Other  modes  of  using  the  common  letters  of  the  alphabet,  with 
a  single  wire,  has  also  been  under  his  consideration.  Plans  of  using  two, 
three,  four,  five  and  six  wires  to  one  registering  machine,  have,  in  their  turn, 
received  proportionate  study  and  deliberation.  But  these,  and  many  other 
plans,  after  much  care  and  many  experiments,  have  been  discarded ;  he 
being  satisfied  that  they  do  not  possess  that  essential  element,  simplicity ', 
which  belongs  to  his  original  first  thought,  and  the  one  which  he  has  adopt- 
ed. A  detailed  account  of  these  various  plans  with  fewer  or  more  wires, 
might  be  given  here,  but  it  will  suffice  merely  to  present  the  alphabet  adapt- 
ed to  a  register,  using  2,  3,  4,  5,  or  6  wires,  with  a  separate  pen  to  each  wire, 
capable  of  working  together,  or  in  any  succession.  It  is  obvious  that  every 
additional  pen  will  give  an  additional  element  to  increase  the  combination, 
and  were  there  any  real  advantage  in  such  an  arrangement  it  would  have 
been  adopted  long  since. 

No.  1. 
Alphabet  for  two  pens •,  operating  together  or  in  succession. 


CDEF        GH        IJKLMNOP        QRS 


TUVWXYZ&l  234567890 

No.    2. 

Alphabet  for  three  pens ,  operating  together  or  in  succession. 


ABCDEFGH     I     JKLMNOPQRS     TUVWX 


YZ&1234567890 

No.  3. 
Alphabet  for  four  pens,  operating  together  or  in  succession. 


ABCDEFGH   IJKLMNOPQRS   T  U 


VWXYZ&123   4567   890 

No.  4. 
Alphabet  for  Jive  pens,  operating  together  or  in  succession. 


ABCDEFGH      I      JKLMNOPQR       STU 


VWXYZ&1234      5      6      7      8      9      0 

No.  5. 
Alphabet  for  six  pens,  operating  together  or  in  succession. 


ABCDEFGH   I   JKLMNOP   QR   ST   0 


VWXYZ&l   234567890 


